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The rapid digital transformation and the widespread influence of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted higher education in Vietnam. This social setting fosters online teaching and lecturers' online teaching competencies. The aim of this study is to investigate online teaching competence at two universities of technology and education in Vietnam through a survey. Based on a review of the literature, an online teaching competence scale for lecturers was developed and its validity and reliability were evaluated using exploratory component analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficients with data from 311 lecturers at two public universities of technology and education. The online teaching competency scale for lecturers consists of 25 items organized into five component competencies: "Understanding student learning", "online session administration", "digital content development and learning facilitation", "technology" and "online learning outcomes assessment". With the exception of "technology", the remaining component competencies were identified as good. Not only online teaching modes but also online teaching activities and productions were also deployed to maintain learning activities especially during the COVID-19 pandemic at two universities. Recommendations for developing lecturers' online teaching competence were also considered.

Identification of the molecular culprits of allergic reactions leveraged molecular allergology applications in clinical laboratory medicine. Molecular allergology shifted the focus from complex, heterogeneous allergenic extracts, e.g. pollen, food, or insect venom, towards genetically and immunologically defined proteins available for in vitro diagnosis. Molecular allergology is a precision medicine approach for the diagnosis, stratification, therapeutic management, follow-up and prognostic evaluation of patients within a large range of allergic diseases. Exclusively available for in vitro diagnosis, molecular allergology is nonredundant with any of the current clinical tools for allergy investigation. As an example of a major application, discrimination of genuine sensitization from allergen cross-reactivity at the molecular level allows the proper targeting of the culprit allergen and thus dramatically improves patient management. This review aims at introducing clinical laboratory specialists to molecular allergology, from the biochemical and genetic bases, through immunological concepts, to daily use in the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serotonin (5-HT), an essential neurotransmitter, regulates numerous physiological processes in the human body. Imbalances in 5-HT levels contribute to various health conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, depression, diabetes mellitus, and serotonin syndrome. 5-HT also functions as a growth factor for tumor cells, influencing various stages of tumor development. Measuring 5-HT concentrations in biological fluids such as blood and serum could facilitate early diagnosis of these conditions. Traditional label-free colorimetric aptasensors often struggle to detect small molecules due to false positives from nonspecific interactions with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). To address this issue, we propose a novel colorimetric sensing method for specific serotonin detection by eliminating nonspecific AuNP interactions. By incorporating a complementary aptamer hybridization step, our label-free aptamer-based method can selectively detect serotonin while avoiding nonspecific AuNP interactions. We optimized detection conditions and established a calibration curve for 5-HT detection, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.2 nM. Our method shows high selectivity and sensitivity, even for structurally similar compounds such as dopamine and tryptophan. It successfully quantifies 5-HT directly in complex biological samples with minimal preparation, achieving average recoveries between 92 and 108% (RSD: 9.5–12.9%; n = 5). This label-free aptamer-based approach shows promise for the reliable detection of 5-HT and other small molecules in real biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spontaneous miscarriage (SM) is the most common complication of pregnancy. Its psychological repercussions are widely documented but few studies have investigated its effect on women’s experience of a subsequent pregnancy. Aim: To evaluate the impact of prior SM on the level of stress experienced by pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Design and setting: Cross-sectional, observational study, which was conducted between June and October 2021 in France. Method: A self-report questionnaire was distributed to women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Stress was assessed using the Antenatal Perceived Stress Inventory to yield an overall score and a score for three dimensions ('medical and obstetric risks or fetal health'; 'psychosocial changes during pregnancy'; and the ‘prospect of childbirth'). Women with a history of prior SM and those without were compared. Results: In total, 93 women were included; 63 without and 30 with a history of prior SM. Prior SM was not associated with the overall score. The score for the dimension 'medical and obstetric risks or fetal health' was significantly higher in women with prior SM (3.00±0.86 versus 2.34±0.80; β = 0.61 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 0.25 to 0.96]; P = 0.001). Prior SM was significantly associated with the items 'the baby’s health' (P = 0.048) and 'the echography' (P = 0.002). Conclusion: This study shows a significant impact of prior SM on the level of stress of pregnant women during the first trimester, particularly relating to the medical and obstetric risks or fetal health, underlining the need for appropriate psychological support to be provided to women who experience SM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]